绵竹 mian zhu

Culms to 10(–15) m, to 10 cm in diam.; internodes deep green, 35–45(–55) cm, initially thinly white powdery, sparsely deciduously white hairy; wall to 2 cm thick; nodes flat, white tomentose; branching from basal nodes up. Branches many, main mid-culm branch to 2 cm in diam. Culm sheaths deciduous, ca. 1/2 as long as internodes, leathery, with yellow and brown hairs, apex truncate or slightly concave; auricles small; oral setae several; ligule 2–3 mm, fimbriate; blade reflexed or spreading, abaxially glabrous, base ca. 1/3 as wide as sheath apex. Leaf sheaths glabrous; ligule truncate; auricles narrowly ovate; oral setae deflexed; blade lanceolate, 7–18 × 1–2.5 cm. Pseudospikelets 2–4 cm; gemmiferous bracts progressively larger; florets 7–11. Glumes 1 or 2; lemma 0.7–1 cm; palea longer than lemma, narrow, apex obtuse; lodicules 3. Anthers 4–5 mm. Ovary pubescent at apex; stigmas 3. Caryopsis unknown.

* Widely cultivated in river valleys and hilly areas; 500–2300 m. Guizhou, Sichuan, C and S Yunnan.

This species is intermediate between Bambusa subg. Leleba and B. subg. Lingnania, with inflorescences typical of the former and culm sheaths typical of the latter.